Warehouse workers group to announce allegations against inland facility

An organization protesting what they consider to be poor working conditions at Inland Empire warehouses plans to "detail new charges of inhumane and unsafe working conditions" at a Thursday rally in Mira Loma.

The group, Warehouse Workers United, plans to file a complaint against an undisclosed warehouse company prior to its event, a spokeswoman said. The workers group will ask Cal/OSHA officials to investigate claims of mistreatment, but is concerned about the potential for retaliation if allegations are discussed publicly before Thursday's announcement.

"We want to make sure that we file the complaint before we make it public," Warehouse Workers United spokeswoman Elizabeth Brennan said.

Although Brennan said she could not provide details on the new allegations, she said the issue is a separate matter from Carrillo v. Schneider, a class-action lawsuit that workers at three other Mira Loma warehouses initially filed against the Green Bay, Wisc.-based Schneider Logistics and two of its subcontractors.

A federal judge ruled last week the plaintiffs can also sue Walmart. The Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart owns or leases the warehouses, which are in turn operated by Schneider.

A comment from Schneider was not immediately available.

Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman said last week that they were not surprised by the judge's ruling, but expected it. If the Carrillo plaintiffs' claims are proven to be true, Fogleman said Schneider Logistics and its subcontracts are responsible for management of the Mira Linda warehouses.